The senior Israeli defense official warned on Friday, October 2, that Iran is exploring its options for responding to economic pressures and U.S. sanctions. As nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington have reached a deadlock, this official stated that the Islamic Republic is seeking tools to escape the current situation and is likely also looking to influence the upcoming U.S. elections.
Iran's Movements Ahead of the U.S. Elections
This Israeli official further referred to existing warnings about the possibility of an attack on Israel from multiple avenues, adding that Hezbollah in Lebanon would be part of Tehran's calculations in the event of a conflict between Iran and Israel. Additionally, according to this official's assessment, economic pressures and sanctions have severely impacted the daily lives of the Iranian people, and the value of the rial has reached its lowest level.
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Reports indicate that about 30 to 40 oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz daily, which points to a decrease in Iran's influence over traffic in this strategic waterway. The Israeli official also referenced the U.S. maritime blockade against Iran, stating that this blockade has severely limited Tehran's options. Iran's attempts to target ships in the Strait of Hormuz and conduct attacks abroad have also so far been unsuccessful.
Israeli Army Prepared to Respond to Threats
In this context, the Israeli army is intensively preparing for any potential response from Iran. This Israeli official added that if Tehran concludes that an attack against it is imminent or if it loses its position in the face of the U.S., it may target American interests in Jordan or Israel. However, he emphasized that the Islamic Republic is aware of the consequences of such actions, and this awareness has thus far prevented an attack on Israel.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, also warned that if Iran's role in the Flydubai incident is confirmed, Tehran will face severe consequences. He implicitly referred to a retaliatory action by the U.S., stating: "They will be hit hard, don't worry."
The Flydubai flight, which was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, suddenly lost altitude due to an attack by one of the passengers and ultimately made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. According to reports, most of the passengers on this flight were Israeli, and this incident has raised significant concerns regarding Iran's role in flight security. So far, no evidence has been presented regarding the Islamic Republic's involvement in this incident.
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